Environmental hygiene is important for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases within the community. It encompasses effective cleaning of surface using appropriate method. Improper disposal of solid waste creates unsanitary conditions, these conditions in turn lead to pollution of the environment and diseases can be spread by rodents and insects cause by this waste, thus, the need for waste management.
Solid waste as a concept is garbage arising from human and animal activities, that is abandoned as unwanted and useless. It is categorized based on materials sucha as paper, plastic, glass, metal, and organic waste (Pulp and Paper Technology.) This must be managed systematically to ensure environmental best practices.
Environment can be polluted in various ways caused by waste. The ways in which waste pollute the environment includes; Degradation (become unusable) of Earth’s surface cause by illegal dumping of natural habitats. Litter on every corner or on the side of the road. Air pollution resulting from mismanagement of landfill waste among others. These led to lost of natural habitats of animals.
However, there are various ways of managing waste in our environment. They include but not limited to; landfills: disposing of waste in a landfill involves burying waste, and this remain a common practice in most places. Sanitary landfill: is dumping the refuse material in a trench and covering it with 15cn layer Earth. Dumping: is filling up pits with refuse or reclaiming low-lying lands. And if done under thorough supervision and during dry season, it is called ‘controlled dumping.”
Waste disposal and management is a critical aspect of the environment hygiene and it needs to be incorporated into our environmental planning for the following reasons;To avoid contamination of soil. Chemical waste that’s capable of killing micro-organism contaminate soil when they’re release carelessly without adequate management. This soil loses nutrients and thus, lead to low yielding of crops for farmers and as well becomes unsave for it inhabitants. This has direct impact on the people who lives by and around it.
Also, to prevent breeding of flies and other harmful microorganisms that spread diseases. Anopheles mosquitoes which spread malaria breed from dungeons, dirty and untidy drainages and bushy surrounding. When these mosquitoes bites, you become expose to malaria and when they touches your foods, it results in diarrhea.
To prevent ground water from getting polluted. The streams, rivers, open wells and uncovered bowl waters are open to pollution when wastes are not properly managed. Polluted waters are unhygienic for consumption, if taken unknowingly, it could result in typhoid fever among others. Thus, proper management of waste prevent water pollution.
To keep the surroundings clean. Cleanliness they say is next to holiness. A clean surrounding promote healthy living within a society, that’s why Kogi state broadcast public service announcement PSA reads, “keep Kogi state clean today and everyday. Stop throwing dirty, dirty dey cause yamma yamma oo, Yamma yamma dey kill oo.” When wastes are adequately managed, we’ll have a tidy and sane environment.
To protect the surroundings from obnoxious odour. When waste are not properly managed, they tend to produce unpleasant odours which constitute nuisance to our environment and form pollutants in the fresh air we breath. This obnoxious odour is culpable of social unrest because the unpleasant smells release can disintegrate a group of people. When you’re gathered with friends and the east wind blows a guttered drainage or sewer to your mouth and nostril while discussing, feel so disgusting and irritating.Thus, the need for proper waste management.
The role of environmental cleaning is to reduce the number of infectious agents that may be present on surfaces and minimise the risk of transfer of micro organisms from one person, object to another, thereby reducing the risk of cross-infections.Keep your environment clean today and everyday. Stop throwing dirty because it pollute the environment. Maintain an hygienic environment with good waste disposal method. Health is Wealth.
– Jibrin Enoch
Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) Anyigba, Kogi State
